Airline industry 'suffered record passenger decline'

Date: 27/1/2010

The airline industry experienced its greatest decline in air passenger numbers in the post-war era last year, it has been reported.

According to the International Air Transport Association (Iata), passenger traffic declined by 3.5 per cent on the previous year.

Freight traffic fell by 10.1 per cent, largely due to the economic downturn.
Iata chief executive Giovanni Bisignani commented: "In terms of demand, 2009 goes into the history books as the worst year the industry has ever seen."

He added that the challenges of 2009 are likely to be felt into the new year, although the worst is now behind.

The association estimates a total of £6.8 billion was lost last year by airlines. It predicts a further £3.5 billion will be lost this year.

The greatest fall in demand was seen by African airlines, with passenger traffic down by 6.8 per cent last year.

Middle Eastern carriers, meanwhile, generated the fastest growth in passenger numbers last year, up 11.2 per cent on 2008 figures.